My first article about how man creates these boundaries of time and location attracted such little attention that I almost threw this second edition in the trash bin. But as any good narcissistic writer will tell you. "Never trust the masses to understand the importance of your collected works! Press on!" Here is part one:
How a ship was in Multiple places at the same time - Or Multiple times at the same place
Below is Part II:
The intersection of man's boundaries is the stuff that makes for interesting events. Since most of us cannot be astronauts, we are constantly reminded of these imaginary boundaries between us, our land, and our countries. To push the metaphor even further, we also draw boundaries between ourselves based on race, economic status, college graduation and unfortunately every few years on politics. It reminds me of a short poem that I once read and committed to memory as a warning about these boundaries.
Out West, there is a point where you can get on your hands and knees and have one of each in four states. I have been on my hands and knees but not at this location. Anybody ever been there?
Click here for a larger picture of the actual monument.
Just half a mile from me is the intersection of four counties where you can do the same thing. Hall, Gwinnett, Barrow and Jackson counties all converge on one point. Back in my drinking days I passed through all four on my way home from Jacks or Jeffrey's bar. I do not recall a plaque at this intersection in the woods. Does that make me an explorer? You can look it up. Now that I do not partake, I only pass through three of the four counties since one is just a hundred yards or so off course.
To extend the metaphor beyond any reasonable interpretation, perhaps a man is nothing more to the rest of the world than a road sign. Bear with me a minute as I try to muddle my through this far out thought. A path is what we see when we follow where someone or something has already been. A road on the other hand is a consensus of many people who have determined in their infinite wisdom that this is a good path to follow. A highway is where multiple people have decided it is the best way to get somewhere and invested time and money to make it wider, smoother, and longer than the original path.
Now if you have a road or a highway and you have someone who has never been there before, you need a few road signs that point the way and offer additional information for those who read. For those who do not read but still have a driving license, you sometimes have symbols and words that tend to point the way or warn. If you remember your driving test years ago the shape of the sign also has ameaning. Here are a couple of examples of warning road signs.
Just to prove that I do not always follow the poem above I offer this slightly humorous idea. What would happen if we used people and road signs with that convey the same message? Would that be a safety hazard or just cruel and unusual punishment?
